The informal meeting between China and India on border issues held on Tuesday in Beijing has sent a clear message to the outside world: The two emerging powers in the region are taking steps to solve their problems and will not allow their differences to stand in the way of developing bilateral ties.

Over the years, the two countries have blazed new trails in coping with their disagreements. To date, special representatives from the two sides have held 15 rounds of talks on border issues.

It is good to see that the two countries are continuing to expand their consensus within the framework for solving the border issues. They have vowed to always bear in mind the general picture of bilateral ties and uphold the spirit of peace, friendship, equal consultation, mutual respect and mutual understanding.

By pledging that they are committed to safeguarding peace and stability in border areas and building mutual military trust, the two neighbors have created a constructive atmosphere for solving the border issue as well as promoting the healthy growth of bilateral ties. This is good news for both sides and the region as a whole.

The boundary question is just a tiny part of China-India relations. The two are cooperative partners, not competitive rivals, as they have far more common ground than differences. Their convergence of interests weighs much greater than their disputes.

Beijing has always kept a special niche for its interactions with New Delhi and remains committed to cultivating good-neighborly ties based on their long tradition of friendship, which dates back more than 2,000 years.

As advocates of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, both China and India shoulder great responsibilities in maintaining peace and stability in the region and beyond. As two emerging powers in Asia, they have been increasingly looked upon by the outside world when the international community addresses major global issues such as world economic recovery and climate change.

Every step forward in the two countries' development and their bilateral ties will have a positive impact on peace, security and cooperation in the region and beyond.

(China Daily 12/05/2012 page8)